Father Claims His Son Was Eaten By Fellow Inmates in Venezuela
Juan Carlos Herrera has claimed his 25-year-old son was murdered and then eaten by a notorious cannibal during a month-long prison siege in Venezuela. Herrera told local media that his son, Juan Carlos Herrera Jr, who was jailed in 2015 for robbery, was beaten, hanged, dismembered and then eaten during the prison mutiny at the Táchira Detention Center.
"My son and two others were taken by 40 people, stabbed, hanged to bleed, and then Dorancel butchered them to feed all detainees," he added, referring to infamous inmate Dorancel "people-eater" Vargas, who is in prison since 1999 for cannibalism. According to news report obtained by Telegraph, Vargas was accused of killing and eating more than 40 people in the South American country before he was captured. Known as "El comegente" (people-eater) and the "Hannibal Lecter of the Andes", he confessed to killing and eating at least 10 men over a period of two years before his arrest in 1999.
His son and another identified inmate Anthony Correa were nowhere to be found. Fox News reported that the shocking claim of cannibalism became public on Oct. 10, when Herrera told the local media he made the gruesome discovery during a regular prison visit. Herrera told local reporters that a fellow inmate of his son saw everything that happened when he was murdered. Herrera declined an interview with Fox News Latino due to safety concerns
However, Minister of Correctional Affairs Iris Varela confirmed the disappearance but denied the cannibalism allegations. Herrera said that the OVP will ask the Attorney's General Office to start an investigation and will submit the case to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
The mutiny at the prison started on September 8 when eight visitors and two guards were taken hostage. Prisoners revolted due to extreme overcrowding in the jail where 350 men were crammed into the prison that has a capacity of 120. It was reported that inmates are starving to death in Venezuelan prisons as the country reels from severe economic depression.
